Geranium plant named ‘Fisvulk’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named ‘Fisvulk’, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by the combined features of orange-red, cup-shaped flowers, semi-spherically shaped umbels, medium-green foliage with distinct zonation, and medium sized, rounded plant habit.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Pelargonium zonale.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Fisvulk’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geranium,botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Fisvulk’.

‘Fisvulk’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new geranium varieties with scarlet flower color,relatively compact plant habit, and generally suitable for eary sale.

‘Fisvulk’ originated from a hybridization made by the inventor AngelikaUtecht in a controlled breeding program in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain,in 1995. The female parent was the commercial, unpatented variety‘Fisnida’, characterized by orange-red colored, single-type flowers,large umbels, medium green, zoned foliage, and relatively vigorousgrowth. The male parent of ‘Fisvulk’ was the commercial, unpatentedvariety ‘Othello’, having orange-red, semi-double flowers, medium greenfoliage with strong zonation, and compact plant habit.

‘Fisvulk’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross by Angelika Utecht in 1996 in a controlled environment inGaldar, Gran Canaria, Spain. The first act of asexual reproduction of‘Fisvulk’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from theinitial selection in the fall of 1996 in a controlled environment inGaldar, Gran Canaria, Spain, by, or under the supervision of, AngelikaUtecht.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in May 1997 in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany, andcontinuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Fisvulk’ are firmly fixed andare retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. Thenew cultivar reproduces true to type.

‘Fisvulk’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Hillscheid, Germany, and in Langley, British Columbia, Canada,under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used incommercial practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Fisvulk’ in combination distinguish thisgeranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Round, orange-red, semi-double flowers;

2. Medium sized, roughly semi-spherically shaped inflorescence;

3. Relatively large, medium-green leaves with distinct zonation;

4. Medium sized, well branched and uniformly mounded plant habit; and

5. Early to medium spring flowering response.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to ‘Fisvulk’ is the patented varieties ‘Fisgrand’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,760), and the related cultivars ‘Fismerk’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 12,444), and ‘Fisfire’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,489).

In comparison to ‘Fisgrand’, ‘Fisvulk’ has an almost similar flowercolor, but shorter peduncles, and more compact, and more evenly shapedplant habit, and more flowers are developed throughout the summer.

In comparison to ‘Fismerk’, ‘Fisvulk’ has more open, cup-shaped flowers,while those of ‘Fismerk’ look double with the inner petals somewhatirregularly arranged. Furthermore, ‘Fismerk’ has fuller, more thansemi-spherically shaped umbels, smaller leaves, and somewhat lower planthabit than ‘Fisvulk’.

In comparison to ‘Fisfire’, ‘Fisvulk’ has a less intense, a brighter hueof flower color, and not quite so strong zonation of foliage.

In comparison to ‘Othello’, ‘Fisvulk’ has larger umbels and a moredistinct zonation of the foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Fisvulk’ with colors being as true as possible withan illustration of this type.

The drawing shows a flowering pot plant in a 14 cm container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.). The color values weredetermined indoors from flowering plants growing in a green-house in May2001, in Hillscheid, Germany. The measurements were taken in Langley,British Columbia, Canada, in early July 2001, 18 weeks after planting ofrooted cuttings. The plants were growing in 8 inch containers and hadnot been pinched.

Inflorescence:

Type.—Umbel.

Shape.—Almost semi-spherical, somewhat flattened.

Average diameter.—120 mm.

Average depth.—72 mm.

Peduncle length.—188 mm.

Peduncle color.—Light green, RHS 144 B, no anthocyanin.

Pedicel length.—29 mm.

Pedicel color.—Mainly light green, RHS 144 B, upper end slightly reddishinfused, RHS 179 A (very weak).

Number of flowers per umbel.—About 25-30.

Corolla:

Average diameter.—48 mm.

Form.—Semi-double.

Shape.—Round, weakly cup-shaped.

Number of petals.—8-10.

Number of petaloids.—0-2, narrow, same color as the petals.

Shape of petals.—Obovate, base attenuate, upper end is rounded, marginis entire.

Size of petals.—Upper petals: length 27-29 mm; width 20-22 mm. Lowerpetals: length: 25-26 mm; width 22-23 mm.

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).—Brightorange-red.

Color of upper petals.—Between RHS 40 A and 43 A.

Markings of upper petals.—Very weak dull red veins, RHS 53 D.

Color of lower petals.—RHS 40 A.

Markings of lower petals.—Absent.

Color of lower surface of petals.—From RHS 40 A to RHS 40 B.

Color of sepals.—Outer surface light green, RHS 143 C; inner surfacelight green, RHS 144 C.

Number of sepals.—5.

Shape of sepals.—Linear to lanceolate, acute tip, truncate base, surfacewith very short pubescence, margin entire.

Size of sepals.—10-11 mm long, 4 mm wide for the largest upper sepal, 3mm for the other sepals.

Bud (just before petals unfold):

Shape.—Elliptical.

Color (sepals).—Green, RHS 144 A.

Color (petals).—RHS 50 A to RHS 50 B.

Length.—19 mm.

Width.—9 mm.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.—5-7 fertile anthers, filaments white, RHS 155 D, plentypollen, orange, RHS 33 A.

Gynoecium.—One pistil per flower, style and stigma red, RHS 43 A, 5 to6-lobed stigma.

Fertility/seed set.—Occasionally a few seeds are developed. Fruit:Oblong, about 6 mm in diameter, with rostrum (beak), total length about40 mm. Seed: Oblong, 4-5 mm long, brown, RHS 177 B.

Spring flowering response period: In Hillscheid, Germany, in 2000 plantshad on average 0.9 flowers opened 8 weeks after planting of rootedcuttings.

Outdoor flower production: Continuously flowering, relatively richflowering, the flower count in 2000, In Hillscheid, Germany, indicatedabout 3 inflorescences per plant in mid May.

Durability: Good stability of flower color, very little fading,relatively good resistance to rain and heat.

Lastingness of the individual flower: About 8 days at 18° C., about 18days for the umbel.

Pest/disease resistance/susceptibility: No observations to date.

Fragrance: None.

PLANT

Foliage:

Shape.—Kidney-shaped to round, with somewhat open, cordate base, andweak lobes.

Margin.—Bicrenated.

Texture.—Upper surface smooth, velvety.

Size of leaf.—93 mm wide, 52 mm long.

Color of upper surface.—Medium green, approximately RHS 137 C.

Color of zonation.—Brown, about RHS 166 A, distinctness medium.

Color of lower surface.—RHS 137 D.

Petioles.—50-60 mm long, 3 mm diameter, light green in color,approximately RHS 143 A to 144 A.

General appearance and form:

Stem color.—Light green, RHS 144 B.

Internode length.—5-15 mm.

Branching pattern.—Average 9.4 branches.

Size of plants.—Height 25.6 cm, width 42.4 cm, as measured from the topof the soil (base of the main stem) to the surface of the foliagecanopy, measured without inflorecences.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named‘Fisvulk’, as described and illustrated herein.